A Man and his Dog (1919) by Mann. This is an autobiographical story about life in Munich. This story, a "depiction of idyllic domesticity," forms a kind of triptych with "Disorder and Early Sorrow" and "Song of the Child," according to Henry Hatfield.

Tonio Kroger by Mann (1925). This is one of Mann's best known short stories. It is about the development of a young artist; many critics believe it is Mann's personal statement about art and artists.

Mein Kampf, 1925-27, by Adolf Hitler. This two-volume work was the basis for Hitler's rise to power. Written while he was in prison, it formulates economic and social programs that he believed would bring the country back from disgrace at the end of World War I. This work is instructive from a rhetorical standpoint, showing how he was able to captivate his audience and...